ABC’s Jake Tapper jumps to CNN

Alphabet taps Jonathan Karl and Martha Raddatz for expanded roles

ABC’s senior White House correspondent Jake Tapper is jumping to CNN as anchor of a new weekday program and CNN’s chief Washington correspondent, the first major staff move since Jeff Zucker was named head of the news network.

In response, ABC named Jonathan Karl chief White House correspondent and tapped Martha Raddatz for an expanded role as chief global affairs correspondent, both in the Washington, D.C., bureau.

Tapper has been reporting from the nation’s capital for 14 years and his most recent book, “The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor,” is currently on the New York Times bestseller list. In his new role at CNN, he will be a key Washington, D.C., anchor and correspondent for CNN.

“We are thrilled to have Jake join CNN and take the helm of a brand new weekday program,” said Ken Jautz, exec VP of CNN/US. “Jake is an exceptional reporter and communicator, and we look forward to developing a program that takes advantage of all of his strengths, his passion and his knowledge of national issues and events.”

Tapper became senior White House correspondent at ABC following the 2008 presidential election. He contributed regularly to “Good Morning America,” “Nightline” and “World News Tonight With Diane Sawyer” and served as substitute host for George Stephanopoulos of “This Week.”

Previously, Tapper reported for Salon.com.

In an email to staff announcing the new assignments, ABC News president Ben Sherwood said, “In his 15 years in Washington, Jon has become a fierce government watchdog. … In the last year, Jon was often on the campaign trail, helping our audience get past the political rhetoric.”

Of Raddatz he wrote, “For nearly 20 years, Martha has demonstrated the ability to paint vivid and insightful pictures of the world — reporting from the Pentagon, the State Department, the White House, and from conflict zones around the world.”